talk about a long day. We headed over to Catalina island on Doc's boat around 5pm friday evening, the crossing was uneventful, we moored the boat, went and ate, then back to the boat for sleeping, saturday would be an early start. i didn't sleep very well, too many things on my mind, oddly enough the race wasn't really one of them. I knew i was in for some serious hurting, as my training had been far less than i hoped for.
i had a decent base coming off of the silverman in november, took a couple weeks off, and early december, after 1 week of that i got sick. I wouldn't be able to run again until january 2nd. 10 days to build back up. that would prove to be an interesting experience.
after some napping here and there around 4 am, i decide enough laying around, i'm getting up and making my way to shore to get ready. Andy came over with me in the kayaks. and would bring my stuff back to the boat. very helpful. the plan was easy, i'd be at the isthmus between 10 and 11, they would take the boat up and yell encouragement, maybe take some of my things i didn't need, and then head back to see me at the finnish.
got there, filled up my gel and water bottles. promptly at 5 am, the run started, still dark and would stay that way until around 6:30 or so. the first 3 - 4 miles were a slight climb, and could be jogged slowly, then the climbing started, and the jog became a walk - 1600' (550m) of climbing over 2 imles (3.2 km). the first aid station came at mile 11.9, 2:12:00 after my start (11:04 min/mile - 6:53 min/km). more water, oranges, pretzels, banana, and i'm off another 7 miles to aid station 2. these miles would be rolling hills and a descent down into the aid station. things felt pretty good, just gotta focus on a very slow pace so i can maintain through the end. my mind would wander amongst the many things going on these days, but always came back to the details at hand. on the way down there was a buffalo, sitting by the road, eating some grass. those things are huge. it was an interesting site.
the downhill was pretty good, there was 1 more climb, then the final descent into and shortly after reaching the top of that climb, the road dropped back down close to sea level, and we were welcomed into the 2nd aid station, little harbor - 1:12:00 after leaving the last aid station, and 7 miles later (10:17 min/mile - 6:23 min/km), and a total of 18.9 miles down. oh boy, my legs are starting to feel the lack of preparation. water, gatorade, fill the water bottle 1/2 water, 1/2 gatorade, pretzels, bananas, potato and salt. off again.
there was a long climb out of this aid station, and a lot of walking. on the way up, another runner joined me, and i was able to run a bit with him. after a mile or 2, it became obvious this pace was entirely too fast for me to maintain, so i bid him well, and began walking again. 10 minutes or so later, another runner joined me. i would stay with her until roughly 33 miles, at which point she would take off ahead never to be seen again. at the top of the climb, we were greated by another buffalo down by a pond drinking and eating, and a few miles later an incredible view looking down onto the isthmus (a harbor on catalina). i was thinking about everythign i could except the fact that my legs were hurting something awful. only some minor coughing, so i was please with that part of it. we ran the 3 miles or so down to the isthmus aid station, and another 1.5 - 2 miles to the turn around. and back to the isthmus: 7.8 miles in 1:51:00 from the little harbor (14;13 min/mile - 8:50 min/km). yep, legs are definitely revolting. more oranges, pretzels, potato, bananas, and lots of liquid, then on our way back to little harbor. i was a bit saddened that there was no sign of andy or doc, but c'est la vie. turns out they had some boat trouble, and missed me at the isthmus by 10 minutes.
the climb out of the isthmus was brutal, hot, uphill, and steep. lots of walking. the good news is the worst is yet to come. at the top, the jogging resumes, letting gravity do what it can do to help out, at this point, i can no longer intelligently speak, just 1 syllable and i doubt it's very understandable. my usual joy for the downhills is lost, my legs threaten to buckle with every step. but keep going, one in front of the other, finally things flatten out, and we arrive at the little harbor aid station - 6.5 miles in 1:22:00 (12:36 min/mile - 7:49 min/km). banana, potato, pretzel, oranges, water, gatorade, refill the water bottle. salt and i'm on my way again.
a bit of a climb out, then a great view of little harbor and the ocean, a quick descent, and the brutal promise of several miles over which here is where things will climb some 600 - 1000 feet (200 - 350 m). doesn't sound like much, but looking at it, and wlaking up it at this point is increasingly difficult. i take solace in the fact that i should be around 40 miles into the race at this point, 1 or 2 aid stations left, and i get that lovely 3 mile descent into avalon, and the cold ocean to immerse my legs in. my ambition is long gone, thoughts of calling it a day are threatening me, and my legs are slowing significantly. then the crushing blow, i reach the next aid station which i'm absolutely confident is bewteen mile 42 and 45, 2 more miles after this, and it's all downhill, not a great thing, but a promise of the pendign finish. i get closer to the aid station, and am pretty much devastated. mile 38.8, 11.2 miles to go, that's a far cry from the 5 or so i was expecting. they have buffalo burgers and lobster at the eagles nest aid station, status check 5.6 miles mainly climbing in 1:11:00 (12:40 min/mile - 7:52 min/km) from little harbor. my stomach protested at teh thought of either lobster or buffalo at this point, so my standard fair, banana, oranges (did i mention i love these things for long races), pretzels, and potato. ooh red gatorade, something different, fill the water bottle with red gatorade please. and several cups of water and gatorade. back on the trail, another 5.2 miles (8.4 km) to the next stop.
to give you an idea of what catalina is like, these 5.2 miles (8.4 km) climbed 400' (320m), and at this point in the sufferfest (it's no longer a run) i was completely convinced this was flat. i was reduced to a walk, mainly due to the additional 7 miles (11.3 km) i was gifted at the last aid station. head down, and pretty well beaten for the time being. then kathryn came along: "you can't walk this, you won't get anywhere, come on, we are going to run walk. running to the 3rd set of tall trees". at the 3rd set of trees, another point would be set, we will walk to the white sign. we'd walk and run like this until the pump house aid station, at the bottom of a 600' (300m) climb which lasted 1/2 mile (0.8 km). finally, 5.2 miles (8.4 km) in 1:22:00 15:46 min/mile (9:47 min/km). at the aid station, no dilly dallying, water, gatorade, refill bottle, oranges, and a banana. off we go
kathryn told me about several other 50 mile (80km)runs she had done, and some people she had pulled through the final miles. she told me she did a 50 miler (80 Km) in october or november, and since hadn't run more than 3.5 miles (5.6 km). she explained how she is married to a air force person, and many of her runs are done around the base, which is fenced off, and how the guards would frequently drive out to ensure she isn't trying to break in. i suggested she have them bring her water and food. before you know it we were at the top of pumphouse hill, some rollers and then the 3.3 mile (5.3 km) descent into avalon (1600' - 490m). we ran most of the rollers and started down the descent. my legs have yet to protest a downhill section like they did that one. i couldn't muster any sort of a pace, even gravity couldn't help with that. "there is a gate, then the bell tower, at the bell tower, it's 1/2 mile (800 m) to the finish" kathryn was offering me hope. it wasn't a question at this point, downhill i can do (generally much better than this one, but i can do those). there was the gate, and a bit after that the bell tower. Kathryn chimes in, "and then there's the sprint to the finish". "have fun with that". finally the road levels out, we are in avalon, so close to the end.
kathryn checks her watch "if we hurry i can make it under 11:30". i'm thinking and with a long run of 3.5 miles over the past 3 months??? "ok, here we go, here's the sprint you wanted". so we go. Doc and Andy are there on the right side of the course cheering and taking photos. a very welcome boost. i offer kathryn to the opportunity to finish first, she declines, so we cross the line together, as discussed throughout the past 2.5 hours. 6 miles from pumphouse in 1:19:00 (13:10 min/mile - 8:10 min/km)
the aftermath. first thought through my head, where is Hilde-Karin, i look around and slowly realize she won't be there, she is in Norway, sleeping. a bit of sadness creeps into my heart. Doc and Andy greet me at the finish, and offer congratulations. you should sit down, get some food, i just want to stand in the ocean and enjoy the cold water.
this is a pain i have never felt. though that crosses my mind after many hard efforts, and eventually fades. this time my legs are destroyed, beyond past experiences. 7300' (2200 m) of climbing over 50 miles (80 km) will do that. i'm wobbly, disoriented, and determined to get in the ocean. after standing in the ocean for a while i come out, next order of business, shower and food.
Official numbers: 50 miles (80 km) in 10:29:00 average pace 12:34 min/mile (7:48 min/km). legs are more destroyed then ever, feet hurt, and i'm so hungry and thirsty, and smell incredibly horrible.
thank you to everyone for being there for me, and helping me in many ways. a special thanks to Hilde-Karin for helping me to find something i lost a long time ago, and being so patient with me jeg elsker deg.
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